Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-30
THE ELECTRIC LINE.
STATEMENT AS TO WHEN TEE CARS
WILL BIZ BUN.
A Number OF Difficulties Encountered
An urintentional danger" Tx
pertinent.

An unusual interest is felt by the
people in the proposed electric rail
way, and they are anxious TO know
when the line will be in operation and
whether it will be q success Mr.. Bar
~, the secretary and treasurer of the
company, yesterday said the machinery
had been subjected to severe test,
and with satisfactory results.
THE CURRENT on.
On Thursday night Mr.. Sprague, OF
the Sprague Electric Motor Company,
and MIR. George A. Burt, manager of
the railway company, turned on the
current Of electricity and connected 1T
with the motors under the car. The
car used for the experiment moved off
easily, and was run from Twenty
and Z streets 20 the corner of Twenty
fifth and M-seven squares-and re-
turned. Four hundred bolts of cleo
tricity were placed upon the cnrrent.
The car was stopped in the centre OF
n switch. and when the current was
turned on it moved of with great ease.
1t ran at the rate of about ten miles
per hour. The test was made at this
point on account OF its being the great
est distance from the dynamo and the
weakest.
THE TROUBLE.
During the test ii was found that the
lower castings were not exactly in
proper position and the brakes were
too short.
The company say they are deter
mined not TO operate the line until it is
perfect in every particular.
Last Thursday a meeting OF the
stockholders was held in New York,
and the question whether the line
should be operated now or when en-
tirely completed was discussed, and it
was decided that it would be better for
the advancement of the company to
wait and start when all things were in
proper order
FORTY MOTORS.
Forty motors have been finished, ex-
cept in "A few minor details, and placed
on twenty cars-two motors TO each car
These motors are placed under the cen
ire of the cars between the wheels.
The trolleg-wire is in an iron rod per
pendicular with the car and joining the
main wire.
TIE POWER.
This connection is made by means of
a forked-like prong pressing against the
wire, with two grooved rollers. This
prong is to insure the connection in
case the car should strike a sink in the
track.
There are over twenty-five curves in
the twelve miles of main track and
sidings, and a very great force-4OO
bolts of electricity be required to
propel the cars. This power is equiva-
lent to fifteen.horse power TO each of
the forty cars that will be run.
AS TO DANGER.
Mr.. Barry, in speaking of the sup
posed danger of the system, told how
one of his colOred linemen received
full shock from the current several days
ago without injury.
II was the intention of the company
to try the power of the current at va
rious points, and so all the men were
given orders to stop work promptly at
6 o'clock One set of hands failed to
do this, and as one OF the men who
was handling the wires touched the
track he received the full shock. Il
nearly frightened him to death, but
did not iDjure him enough to prevent
his being back at work the next morn
ing, determined to stop when he was
told next time.
Mr.. George 4. Burt, manager of tue
company, said he had several times
voluntarily taken the shock to convince
people that there was no danger in 1t.
THE MOTOR WILL SUCCEED.
The officers of the company are tho
roughly satisfied that the motor will
be successfully applied and give entire
satisfaction TO the people.
PRICE OF TICKETS.
Whether this company will sell six
tickets for twenty-five cents has not yet
been decided, aud will not be until the
line is in regular operation.
When it will be in regular operation
cannot he stated definitely. Mr.. Barry
SAYS "as soon as the mechanical part
of the system is in as perfect order as
the electrical the ears will run upon
regular schedule"
NIGHT RUSNIYG-TIE POSTS.
These cars will be run upon regular
schedule until Il o'clock, aud after that
about every half all hour until Nora
ing.
Some disadvantages have been foanl
in the clay soil in which the posts are
placed, and it may be necessary to put
concrete around them.
The wire that runs through the cars
to the motor beneath is in brass insu-
lated rod, which is placed on the out
side of the rear door of the cars.
SEVERAL WEEKS YET.
II will be in all probability several
weeks yet before the line is put into
operation for when II commences Mr..
Barry Gays he wants it to continue
throughout years to work smoothly and
properly.
Twenty cars are in the city with mo-
tors attached. The other twenty are
ready and viii be shipped soon as
needed,